shields



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

JnSHIELDS.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING OIL UPUN THE SEA AT` HARBORS, DOGKS, cinc.No. 334,295. PatentedJan. 12, 1886.

n w. Jaim In we@ *Jai-.f jhm N. PETERSlv Pnoxgmhagmpher. wasmngmn, D. c,

.NAN

(No Model.) 2 sneeisheet 2.

y J. SHIELDS.

APPARATUS POR DIISTRIBUTING OIL UPON THE SEA AT HARBORS, BOOKS, &o.

No. 334,295. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

ln ven fr; r:

N. PETERS, Fhclwmhagnphur. wnshngmn. D. c.

. NrTnn STATES Prion.

PATENT APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING OIL UPON THE SEA AT HARBORS, DOCKS,&c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,295, dated January12, 1886.

Application filed June 24, 1885. Serial No. 169,644. (No model.)Patented in England March 8, 1882, No. 1,112, and in France March 29,1882. No. 148,160.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SHIELDs, of the city and county of Perth,Scotland, have invented Improved'Means or Apparatus for Distributing Oilupon the Sea at Harbors, Docks, and other Places, (for which I havereceived Letters Patent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain andIreland, No. 1,112, dated March 8, 1882, and also of the Republic ofFrance, N 0. 148,160, dated March 29, 1882,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improved means or apparatus for distributing oilupon the sea at harbors, docks, and other places, and has reference tothe discharging of oil onto the surface of the sea, so as to produce aliquid surface which is not broken by the action of the wind, as is thecase when the wind acts violently upon the surface of the sea itself. Toaccomplish this, one or more pipes are laid at a suitable point upon thebottom of and across the entrance to a harbor or other part of the sea,estuary, inlet," or river. Each such pipe is provided at intervals withopenings closed by valves opening outwardly, so that the weight of thevalves and the pressure of the water thereon causes their closure whentheir pipes are not in use for distributing oil. From the distributingpipe or pipes a conveyingpipe leads to an oil tank or reservoir soarranged or combined with means adapted to give sufficient head or forceto the oil owing therefrom to force open the valves against their ownweight and pressure of the water thereon. This will be better understoodby reference to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a portion of aharbor or other body of water in section fitted with `devices forpracticing the invention; Fig. 2,

a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a cross, and Fig. 5 alongitudinal, sectionof the distributingpipe, and a valve for one of its apertures on anenlarged scale; and Fig. 4, a side view of the same.

Tn these drawings, A indicates a tower, upon which is mounted a tank orreservoir, B, for the oil to be used. From this tank proceeds a singleconveying-pipe, C, which, following the conformation of the harbor andits boundaries, lies upon the bottom thereof. At

some point readily accessible for operation is interposed a stop-cock,D, for permitting or stopping the flow from the tank or reservoirthrough the pipe C. This conveyingpipe C extends to the point or pointswhere it is deemed best to apply the oil, where it is connected to oneor more distributing-pipes, E, extending across the' mouth of the harboror body of water to be freed from wave action, or across so much thereofas is deemed sufficient to insure the result aimed at. Such distributingpipe or pipes E are perforated upon the upper side at one or morepoints, each perforation being furnished with an outwardlyopening valve.A convenient and desirable form of such valve is shown in Figs. 3, 4t,and 5, wherein the pipe E is shown as perforated, the perforation beingscrew-threaded for reception of the valve-seat. The valve-seat a, groundto lit the valve F, has a screw-threaded depending fiange, h, by whichit is secured in the perforation of E. Spider-arms y eX- tend inwardlyfrom the periphery of h and support a hub, e, through which passes arod, c, attached to the valve F. At its free end this rod cis providedwith a nut or other stopping device, d, limiting the amount of movementof the valve from its seat and preventing its being thrown therefrom.The weight of these valves and the head or force given the oil flowingfrom the reservoir are so adj usted relatively to each other and to thepressure of the water upon the valves, due to the depth of theirsubmergence, that such force or pressure of the oil, when allowed toflow, will lift the valves and permit the escape of the oil to thesurface, as shown in Fig. 1.v

While an elevated tank or reservoir is here- Iin shown as the means forgiving to the flowing oil the force necessary to lift the valves, it isevident that a suitable pump might be substituted therefor as the meansfor giving to the oil such force. Again, while, as herein shown, thetower A and tank B are located'upon the shore adjacent to the harbor, itis evident that this location is not essential to the successful use ofthe invention, that the tower might be located in the harbor or body ofwater itself, or if a lighthouse-tower were convenient that 'the tankcould be placed within it.

l am aware that it has been proposed to lay IOO a series of pipes uponthe bottom of a body of Water, connected to a pump, so that infiammableliquids could be forced therethrough, which, being then ignited, shouldform Va defence or protection against the approach of a hostile vesselor Heet, and hence I do not claim such.

rIhe use of oil for quieting or lessening Wave action is only needed atintervals, upon theIoccasion of heavy storms, and when needed it isneeded urgently and immediately. If the pipes beneath the water becomefull of Water, the oil, owing to its lighter specific graVity,Will notflow therethrough and thereout unless sufficient additional force begiven it to displace the Water therein, which would require, especially.in a large or extended system of pipes, a great force or pressure, sogreat as often not to be readily or conveniently attained. The use ofthe peculiar kind of valves described obviates this, as, from theirweight and vthe pressure of the superincumbent water, they automaticallyclose and prevent the ingress of water to the system of pipes. ThenWhenever the cock D be opened the oil flows through the pipes andescapes at the valves, the only eXtra force needed being such as issufficient to raise the valves. Vhen the cock is turned to stop the 110Wof oil, the valves instantaneously close, and the system of pipes from Dto the valves is left filled With oil, ready for immediate dischargeupon reopening of the cock D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an oil tank or reservoir, a conveying-pipe leadingtherefrom, one

or more perforated distributing-pipes connected thereto, andautomatically operating- Valves, one at each perforation in thedistributing-pipes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the distributingpipes of a system fordistributing oil upon the surface of a harbor or body of Water, of

outwardly-opening valves automatically closing the apertures thereinagainst the ingress of Water, but permitting the escape of oiltherefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the conveying and distributing -pipes of asystem for distributing oil upon the surface of a harbor or body ofwater, of' outwardly opening-valves automatically closing the openingsin the distributing-pipes against the ingress of water, and means,substantially as described, for giving to the flowing oil forcesuiiicient to open said valves. substantially as set forth.

4. rIhe combination, of an oil tank or reservoir, a conveyingpipeconnected thereto, one or more perforated distributing-pipes connectedto the conveying-pipe, outWard1yopening automatic valves, one at eachperforation in the distributing pipe or pipes, and a stop-cock in theconveying-pipe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

\ JOHN SHIELDS.

Vifitnesses:

WILLARD B. WELLs, U. S. Consul, Dundee, Scotland. WILLIAM MOINTYRE, U.S. Vice and Deputy Consul, Dundee, Scotland.

